January 2009 Archives

The January Show & Sale at Hallworthy Stockyard saw an amazing start to 2009.  A good quality entry met a packed ring of buyers, the cattle selling on a flying trade.  Freshly calved heifers sold to £2450 for a Haldrey Leadership daughter giving 30 Kgs, sold by Mark Davis of Tiverton, whose consignment of Holstein heifers averaged £2188.  

Mr P J Andrews of Sparkwell, Plympton saw heifers top at £2380.  Over half the entire entry of heifers realised over £2000.  The Overall Champion and First Prize Cow realised £2450 for "Beckwell Pippen Priscilla 6 GP83", a 3rd calver giving 42 Kgs, sold on behalf of Messrs A & D Heyward of Coryton, Okehampton. 

A consignment of well bred In Calf Heifers from the "Trythance" herd on behalf of Mr JK Cardell of Laity, Helston, topped at £2150 and averaged £2057.  A consignment of bulling heifers from Messrs EV & BK Benney of Garras, Helston topped at £1080 and averaged £1024. 

Holstein breeders enjoyed another succesful day at Beeston yesterday when the Western Holstein Club's sale attracted a top price of 2950gns for a heifer by Moet Trystar.

Topping the sale was Bidlea Trystar Tagasling from Ray Brown and Partners of Holmes Chapel. Buying this one was Roger Stafford of Haverfordwest, Wales who took a total of 15 cattle on the day.

Second top on the day was a 2650gns call for Dunston Ocean Useful, a heifer by Smiddiehill Ocean giving 39.5kg from Betholt Ltd of Stafford. Taking this one home were J L and E M Parker and Son, Haughton.

Topping the cow trade was a 2600gns sale for the reserve champion on the day. Stokehall Norma 32 from Jack and Barclay Taylor of Myddle, Shrewsbury. This second calver is by Roylane Jordan and gave 8000kg as a heifer. This one headed home with Roger Brooks, Wettenhall, Winsford.

Next in line at 2500gns was the day's champion a second calved cow by Actonfarm Bestmate from Graham and Barbara Bell. This one was bought by west Wales buyer Edward Daviees, Tenby.

Among the bulls on offer the top call was a 2400gns sale for Bidlea Zulu from Ray Brown. This one is a son of Penn-England Garrison and was bought by F H Cookson and Sons of Altrincham.

Averages; 18 cows £1867.83, 80 calved heifers £2113.91, 12 bulls £1671.25, 44 embryos £316.19.

A Highland bull from J & M McConachie & Son, Culfoich, Grantown-on-Spey has been exported to Germany to join Werner Baron von Buchholtz to join his luetten Dieker fold of Highlanders in a five figure deal. The bull, Lasgarie 2 of Culfoich is by Cuirtear of Balmoral and out of Seonaid of Tordarroch.

April 2007-born Lasgaire was sold for an undisclosed sum and comes from the 38 cow Lasgaire herd run by the McConachie family at home in Strathspey in the Cairngorms National Park.

A top price of £2300 was recorded at Wednesday's sale of dairy cattle at Carmarthen, where 115 head of milking cows and heifers passed through the ring.

Topping the sale was a pedigree Holstein heifer Rhandir Carol Catherine from Mr Jones, Pengelli Uchaf. This one is by Carol Storm Cocherill and out of Rhandir Prudential Catherine 4.

Average price among the recorded heifers was £1681, with the best third calver, Eola Jurnel Blackie, making £1420.

In the commercial section 14 cows averaged £853 and 13 heifers averaged £1367. Top in this section was an £1850 bid for a heifer from Mr House, Ciliau Uchaf.

Breaking news has just reached me about the future of the Royal Smithfield Show (or Christmas Fair depending on what you call it!). The Royal Smithfield Club intends to move its Primestock competitions and livestock show to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, for 2009 and beyond.

Royal Smithfield Club Chairman, John Campbell, told Taking Stock the Club's plans were well advanced for establishing a new home for the Show in the middle of the country, as requested by many livestock exhibitors.

"Discussions are still ongoing and it hasn't been fully decided yet whether the Club will be a tenant of RASE or work in partnership with it to organise the event. The show has been provisionally booked for Stoneleigh Park on 11 and 12 December, but full details will be available in mid-March after further negotiations."

I think its probably fair to say that from an exhbitor's point of view Shepton Mallet wasn't the ideal venue. The facilities were becoming tired and it certainly isn't the easiest place to get to or from, being a little distant from the motorway network. However, the show has been made welcome there and the Club will I'm sure be eternally grateful for its temporary home.

But, like most other people I'm nervous of any involvement with RASE bearing in mind the catastrophe which was last year's Royal Show. On this point I'm reassured that the Club has been dealing with RASE's technical events team rather than its Royal Show team, so hopefully all will be OK. As John Campbell told me "This will be the Royal Smithfield Show at Stoneleigh Park" implying it would have no link to the Royal Show.

Other venues were considered, but in terms of facilities none were thought to offer what Stoneleigh could, particularly in terms of buildings and accomodation.

Records were smashed at last weekend's sale of Herefords at Dungannon Mart, Northern Ireland, with new centre records set for both males and females.

Leading the way at 4000gns was the youngest bull in the sale, Dorepoll 1 Einsteine from the Haire family, Dundrod. Sired by last year's Balmoral Show champion Dorepoll 1 Jonathan, Einsteine stood first in the junior bull class and demonstrated impressive growth, weighing in at 840kg at 16 months old.

Out of homebred cow Dorepoll 1 Ravette, Einsteine was much sought after by ringsiders, with mainland buyers battling with southern Irish bidders to secure him. Eventual winners of the bidding war were Fife-based John and Margaret Cameron buying for their Baldinne herd.

High prices among old season lambs aren't just limited to the north of the country it seems with Ashford, Kent, too reporting its first £100 hogget of the year.

Overall 3168 hoggets sold to average £1.68/kg report Hobbs Parker, the auctioneers. Topping the trade on a head basis was a £100 bid for a 60kg Southdown cross from myself (not often I top the prime trade and sadly it was my last of the season), while the next best was £99/head paid for 52kg Continental crosses from Richard Vant.

So, once again we wait to see what the rest of the week brings, but with £100 achieved at both ends of England in the space of two days I reckon we'll pass a few more milestones by the time the week's out.

A new centre record was set at Ross-on-Wye last week when Gwilym Richards staged their regular sale of dairy cattle.

Topping the trade at 2500gns was a commercial heifer from regular vendor Adrian Ratcliffe of Gloucester. Others from the same home made 1900gns and 1850gns, reflecting the quality on offer from the herd.

Offered on the same day was the dispersal of George Look's herd which topped at 1850gns for a non-registered daughter of Beverlakee Louson out of a 9863kg dam by Stardell Steady Creme Brut. This one had calved in October and was bought by J M Lowe of Hereford.

Next best was an 1800gns bid for a non-registered Moet Lookout sired third calver which gave 8854 in her second and calved again in October, buying this one was G M Jones, Newent. A second calver by the same sire made 1700gns to J M Lowe.

Averages; 28 milking cows and heifers £1126.50, 10 bulling heifers £704.55, 5 maiden heifers £585.90, 12 heifer calves £448.55 (Gwilym Richards).

Its been close for several weeks now, but the first £100 hoggets have now arrived, courtesy of Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

Yesterday's primestock sale saw Texel cross lambs from Messrs Reay, St Oswalds Farm, Hexham hit bang on the ton mark.

In a trade described as the dearest so far this season, the top price/kg was recorded at 233.8p/kg for Texels from W L Musgrave, Cardew Hall Farm, Dalston, while the entire entry levelled at 179.36p/kg or £77.13/head.

St Boswells Market, meanwhile, recorded a top price of £101/head for Texels from J G Grieve, Lee, Innerleithen and a top of 206.8p/kg for Texels from Oakwood, Selkirk.

Talk is the trade could get dearer as the week goes on, so watch this space to see where the highlights are across the country.

Musical matters are a rare offering on Taking Stock, but I'm making an exception just this once to highlight the success of Mark Evans, son of Suffolk breeder Myfr Evans of the Rhaedr flock, Denbigh.

As the eagle eyed among you will have noticed Mark is currently appearing on the BBC show Eurovision - Your Country Needs You and has made it through to the final three.

You can read more about Mark's exploits on my colleague Tim Relf's Field Day blog.

Lynne Grieve of Harrison and Hetherington has been named the top student in the first year of a four year livestock auctioneering degree foundation course.

A farmer's daughter from Hexham, Lynne joined H and H in 2002 and is currently a member of the firm's field staff responsible for sourcing stock for sales at Borderway Mart. Alongside her role at the mart Lynne also runs a flock of 40 pedigree Texel ewes and is assistant secretary of the Solway and Tyne Texel Breeders' Club.

The award, the Dick Harrison Award is given to the top student on the course run by the Livestock Auctioneers Association and the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers Scotland in memory of the late Dick Harrison, the manager of H and H's Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

Having just looked through the catalogues it look's much like black bulls of two breeds are set to dominate the headlines from Perth Bulls Sales next week.

Without a doubt the Aberdeen-Angus sale leader will be black and I hear there are some good bulls to come out in that breed, but with more than 240 Angus bulls catalogues just how many of them find new homes will be an entirely different story I suspect.

Among the Angus the best figured bulls come from David Ismail's Fordel herd with one of his entries carrying a terminal sire index of a massive +43 and another two rated at +35. His best figured entry is Fordel Jordan Eric, a son of Bronco of the Moss out of Fordel Jumariya Erica. At +35 are Fordel Estonia, a son of Blelack Kiwi and out of Fordel Empress and Fordel Elixir, a fully homebred entry.

With an index of +40 is Housestead Ermane from the Actons. This one is by Netheron Bellsman and out of Housesteads Ermine.

Away from the high figured entries there are some well bred bulls with reasonable figures too, including a couple from Netherton and also some from John Lascelles Balmachie herd and Hamish Sclater's Deveron herd.

But it is among the Limousin entries where the figures really speak for themselves. Black bulls account for the best two figured bulls in the catalogue, the best being Lyonpark Black Cambrai from Carrick Primestock. This one is by Newhouse Vapor and out of Redpaths Sally and carries a 400 day growth value of +91.

Second best among the Limousins and the second best black on offer is from Bruce Goldie -Goldies Black California. This one is by SLVL Beef and out of SLVL Dutchess Olivia and has a beef value of +44 and carries a calving value of +5. His dam is the granddam of the 25,000gns black Limousin record holder.

So, with figures like that and the black Lims past-history it could be that black Limousins dominate the Perth trade for another February sales.

Away from the blacks there are plenty of other well bred red Limousins, including a full brother to the much admired show cow Millington Tangerine from Millington Grange Estates, and a son of Tangerine also on offer from the same vendors. And coming with figures of +41 is Goldies Terence son Goldies Crackerjack.

More than 180 cattle were catalogued for the Lancashire Holstein Breeders Club sale at Lancaster Mart last week, for the Club's 600th show and sale at the venue.

With a packed ringside for the ocassion the auctioneers reported buyers wasy to find and bidding spirited for every lot offered. Topping the sale at 5000gns was the day's pre-sale show champion, Twinfields Shottle Shana.

Bred by Richard Bainbridge and family and sired by renowned sire Picston Shottle, Shana is rated VG-87, calved four months and is giving more than 33kg a day. Buying this one was Gaerwen Vaughan who secured her and five other animals by telephone bids.

The next best on the day was a duo of 4600gns calls, the first of which came for for Colin Price's best from his family's Jackbeck herd at Keasden, Clapham. Selling at this money was Jackbeck L P T Claire a VG-88 scored daughter of Ladino Park Talent and joins David Mutton's Billioncaot herd due in July with her second to Bolivia Allen.

Known worldwide for its quality, the Bilsrow herd of the Tomlinson family was responsible for the other sale at 4600gns, with Bilsron Jackson Peak trading to Smallthwaite Farms. Sired by Weeton Jackson, this one is out of Bilsrow Black Peach Mandel and is bred from seven generations of excellent rated cows. Her dam has given 10,000 litres in all but one of her seven lactations.

At 4400gns was Meinspride Lheros Gem 15 a daughter of Comestar Lheros from R M Lucas. This one is out of Meinspride Stormin Gem 4, buying this one were Messrs Hutchinson and Sons for their Bowerhill herd.

The final bid above 4000gns was another Shottle daughter, Whitecarr Shottle Christa from Tom Cowell. With more than 50 cattle catalogued, Mr Cowell provided the bulk of the sale and Christa, bred from 11 generations on Excellent and VG dams sold to join Meyrig Davies' Paxtonview herd.

Averages; 19 cows £2321; 87 heifers £2386; 43 maiden heifers £914.

The draft from the Clury Limousin herd at Carlisle earlier today sold to a top bid of 4900gns when J G Evans bought Clury Bodica a Snoopy daughter out of Ferry sired Clury Ruby.

Second top at 3100gns was Clury Bluebell. Also a Snoopy daughter, Bluebell is out of Ringway Mojo and was snapped up by R Wallace, Castle Douglas.

And the next best call was a 2400gns sale for Clury Baby. Out of Hartside Lavinia and by Snoopy, Baby was bought by Nether Hall Farms, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Average; 12 heifers £2301.

Well, as predicted the sale of heifers from the Bailea Limousin herd at Carlisle earlier today drew some high bids and as suspected it was one of the breed's big spenders who dug deepest to secure the most expensive animal of the day.

Heading the prices was Bailea Catkin, an August 2007-born Requin daughter out of Greensons Gigolo daughter Bailea Izbicki, combining some of the breed's best lines, Catkin sold at 22,000gns to Peter Smith, Smiths of Bloxham, for his Ironstone herd.

The nest best call of the day was a way short of the top, with Bailea Crazychick, a Salomon daughter and full sister to 18,000gns heifer Bailea Amazinggrace making 6000gns. This one which goes back to Nestor on her sire's side and Gigolo again on her dam's side also travelled back to Banbury to join the Ironstone herd. Likelihood is we'll be seeing at least one of these two on the show circuit later in the year.

Following on from this sale was a 5200gns bid from Nether Hall Farms to take another Salomon daughter Bailea Cherish. This one again goes back to Gigolo with him being the sire of her dam Bailea Songbird.

Then it was back to Peter Smith to lead the charge of bids, taking the next best two sales. The first was a 5000gns call for the first heifer in the ring, Bailea Calypso. By Rocky, this one is out of Bailea Nifty, another Gigolo daughter.

And at 4000gns the Ironstone herd acquired Bailea Charity, a June 2007 born Salomon daughter out of Bailea Teletubby. Charity, however, lacked any Gigolo breeding, with Teletubby being an Oscar daughter out of an Imposant sired dam.

The first Border and Lakeland sale of 2009 at Carlisle set the scene for the year ahead with a raft of strong prices leading to an average of more than £2126.25.

Heading up the trade were two sales at 2700gns, the first of which was a bid from Jim Caldwell, Baltersan Mains, Maybole, for the day's pre-sale show reserve champion a Regancrest Samuelo daughter from Robbie Scott, Mossblown, Ayr.

Also at this money was Loughdale Jordan Gail 2 from Stuart Braid's Murhat herd. This heifer bred from seven generations of excellent or VG dams also went home with Mr Caldwell.

The dispersal of the final portion of Richard Oates Lumbylaw flock of Texels at Carlisle yesterday saw trade peak at 2300gns for a shearling ewe by Lumbylaw Madras. With the flock famed for its performance recording success, it was no suprise this ewe carried an index of 367 with a muscle depth figure of 4.24.

Due in March to Cambwell Ombudsman, the sale topper sold to M P Luscombe, South Brent, Devon. Next best at 1850gns was another shearling, this time by Lumbylaw Malvern and carrying an index of 379. With a CT gigot score of 6.88 this one sold to the day's biggest bulk purchaser, Hans Porksen of Morpeth, Northumberland. Having established his Wallington flock last year with purchases from the first Lumbylaw sale, Hans took a total of 18 lots on the day.

The long established Hewgill flock owned by Cumbria farming brothers John, Andrew and David Lord from North Stainmore near Kirkby Stephen earned the day's richest pickings with the £3000 sale topper and the another hogg at £2200.

The top bid came for a smart gimmer hogg on its first trip away from home. By the K1 Lunesdale sire and out of a ewe by a home-bred Hewgill tup, she hails from one of the flock's best families. She stood champion on the day and heads for Girvan, Ayrshire with buyer R Wallace adding to his Macherquhat flock.

Tarnbrook Holsteins

 One of Lancashire's most respected Holstein herds went under the hammer this week as part of a business re-organisation plan for the France family who run the Tarnbrook herd at Quernmore near Lancaster - and from the overall average of £2582 for 109 head and a top price of 5800gns it was clear that buyers were keen to make substantial investments in the proven achievements of this 70-year-old herd.

In-calf and maiden heifers drummed up some of the day's fiercest competition among the 400-strong crowd and it was the in-milk heifer Tarnbrook Melody that finished on top making 5800gns to North Yorkshire buyer J Metcalfe, Leyburn.

This Shottle daughter is out of Woodmarsh Journalist Melody 16(Ex-90) and goes back to the heavy milking Comely Southwind Melody Ex-93 that achieved four lactations over 15,500kg. Tarnbrook Melody was AI'd in November to Goldwyn.

The herd's location on a 600ft high moorland farm in the Trough of Bowland makes its long-standing performance even more notable and certainly produced some inspired bidding from the ringside.

Among two Northern Ireland buyers taking some of the choicest lots was I Robinson from Co Down. He gave 5700gns for Aldingham Stormatic Ghost 2, a second calver out of a Raider dam. 

She had given 9871kg in 305 days of her second note and was still giving over 18kg. Ghost 2 - bought for 3700gns at the Werthyr sale in 2006 - was breed champion at Northumberland Show last year. She was in-calf to Outside.

The first of three lots to make 5000gns was Tarnbrook Dream 288 from one of the herd's most successful families. This VG-89 second calf daughter of Outside was AI'd to Shottle in December. Buyers were T G and G F Vaughan, Pembrokeshire.

Also bound for Northern Ireland at 5000gns was Tarnbrook Ghost. This in-calf heifer - AI'd to Den-K Marshall LL Laurin last month - is by Shottle and out of Stormatic Ghost  2.  She joins L A McMurray's herd in Co Down.

Making up the 5000gns trio was the maiden heifer Tarnbrook Dream 323. This Shottle daughter is out of a Leduc dam and goes to Blandford Forum, Dorset buyer D Coombes.

Another from the same family - the calved heifer Dream 311 - made 4600gns to A H Wilson for his Tregibby herd in Cardigan. She is by Emory Blitz and out of a 9000kg dam by Jordan. And at 4400gns Mr McMurray was in again to secure Tarnbrook Dream 315 - another Shottle-sired maiden heifer AI'd to Goldwyn last November.

Averages: 73 cows and calved heifers £2776; 16 served heifers £2602; 16 maiden heifer £2150 and four bulls £682. (Norton and Brooksbank).

A swift trade for both pedigree and commercial cattle was seen at Uttoxeter at Derby livestock market. The day saw demand exceed numbers resulting in prices topping at £2020 for a Silverpost Sinatra daughter, Cavenworth Sin Wonder consigned by Mr R Lomas, Calow, Chesterfield. Mr Lomas's second heifer by Shottle sold for £1900.

Commercials peaked at £1700 for a stylish heifer from Mr J Griffin, Omaston, selling to Mr S Fox, Church Broughton, Derby.

An entry of six pedigree heifers from Tom and Sue Flower, Friden, Derbyshire peaked at £1960, with their entire entry averaging £1832.

The entire commercial and pedigree entry combined averaged £1545, with top 14 pedigree heifers averaging £1811 and the entire pedigree entry averaging £1613. 

Buyers gathered at the Bluefaced Leicester Female Show and Sale at Carlisle, which saw 140 registered females going under the hammer, with brisk trade resulting in lambs averaging £837.24.

Topping trade was a gimmer from the Midlock Flock of Messrs John Wight and Sons. In-lamb with twins, this female sold for 2400gns to D and V Hill, Great Asby, Cumbria.

The Midlock Flock also secured the second top price with an in-lamb gimmer due with triplets. She heads home with Ian Gregory, Buckston, Derbyshire for 2000gns. 

Next in line it was the turn of the W M Hutchinson and Sons, Kirby Stephen, Cumbria, with a gimmer selling for 1900gns to PJ Broughton, Whitby, Yorkshire.

The Midlock flock also secured 1900gns for a gimmer in-lamb with triplets. She heads home with Robert McInnes, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

Several animals went under the hammer at 1800gns. First in line was the supreme champion lamb from the Hewgill flock of Messrs Lord, Kirby Stephen, Cumbria, selling to Walter Sutcliffe, Settle, North Yorkshire.

Two lambs both from Craigskean flock of J and M Kerr, Ayrshire also went under the hammer at 1800gns, both secured by R Loughridge, Ballymoney, Co.Antrim.

The reduction of the Drinkstone Flock of D E and K Gray saw 7 animals forward averaging £123.00. The dispersal of the Walton Flock of JB and S N Mounsey saw 28 head averaging £224.63.

 Averages: 6 ewes, £582.75; 36 gimmers, £660.92; 19 Lambs, £837.24.

This Friday's sale of heifers from the Bailea herd of Limousins certainly has something to suit everybody with a massive depth of breeding behind most of the offering.

Top of the pile for me is the catalogue's cover girl, Bailea Chippie. By the herd's stock sire Salomon and out of Bailea Mipie, a daughter of Bailea Ipie who has bred daughters selling to 10,000gns, Chippie is full of flesh and has a cracking top on her.

Also exceptionally well bred is Bailea Crazychick, this one is by Salomon and out of Bailea Nightowl, making her a full sister to 18,000gns heifer Bailea Amazinggrace and maternal half sister to 22,500gns bull Bailea Spunkie and 10,000gns bull Bailea Bullion.

As promised here is a full report from the Bringlee British Blue production sale for Graham Brindley at Carlisle today.

Beyond the prices reported earlier, the best call was a 6500gns bid for Bringlee Candice, an ET daughter of Baroque De L'Ecuse out of Belgian bred cow Berline. This white heifer was imported from Belgium as an embryo and sold to join J Mawer, Toynton, St Peter.

Next best was a 6000gns sale for Bringlee Darcy, again ET bred this bull calf is by homebred sire Bringlee Waldo and out of Burton Ulrika. Sold suckling his recipient dam, Darcy ws first place at the Welsh and Borders calf show last December, buyer was T R Williams, Lampeter.

In at 5200gns was W J C Stewart when claiming another prize winner from the calf show, Bringlee Definie. This blue and white heifer is by Graphite De Dessous La Ville and out of Definie ET De Fooz.

Another pair of heifers have hit the high spots at the Bringlee sale, with Bringlee Doubliette, an ET daughter of Baron Du Bois Bauloye Is and out of Oubliette 4244 De Haute Somme, sold for 7000gsn. This smart black and white heifer is described as combining muscle and class.

The 10th heifer into the ring at today's Bringlee sale of British Blues at Carlisle, Bringlee Crispy, has just sold for 9000gns.

Crispy is by Bringlee Waldo and out of Bringlee Wanda, a Baron Du Bois Bauloye Is daughter and combines what vendor Graham Barber deescribes as two of the best bloodlines in the Bringlee herd.

As promised here is some news from today's Bringlee British Blue sale at Carlisle. Trade has certainly got into its stride early with the fith lot in the ring, Bringlee Collette, making 7000gns.

Collette is by Cajoleur De Rettigny and out of the famous Bringlee cow Bringlee Sandy. This ET bred heifer is May 2007 born and carries a pedigree breeding index of +10. She was claimed by C R Raine and Sons, Middleton in Teesdale.

Store cattle met an unprecedented demand at Carlisle yesterday with the 1278 cattle on offer snapped up by an eager ringside which included 56 bidders from outside Cumbria.

Topping the sale was a Limousin steer from T B Stamper of Rose Farm at £1240, while the overall entry levelled at £816.38, a tremendous average, said auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington.

Leading the pre-sale show was another Limousin sired steer, this time from Messrs E Telfer and Son, Newton High House. This steer, by a registered Saunders bred bull and out of a British Blue x South Devon dam went on to sell for £1100 to the judge Mr Steadman Dodd.

Standing reserve champion and making £1010 in the sale was a Limousin sired heifer from Messrs Sowerby, Sycamore Rise. Buying this one was H Bainbridge, Moorhouse Farm, Yarm.

A clearance rate of 92% and a top price of 2050gns were the highlights of last week's sale of Limousin females at Dungannon where Scotchtown Colga, a heifer from Messrs L and R Allison took the top call.

By Homebyres Visitor and out of Greensons Gigolo daughter Scotchtown Olga, this heifer had a beef value of +26 and sold to JB O'Kane, Coleraine.

Next best price of 2000gns was paid by I McIlveen, Kells, Ballymena for Banville Bouquet from Berry Bros, Banbridge. This one is a daughter of Cairnways Utopia an Ocean son and out of French dam Parmelie.

Third best at 1850gns was April 2006 born heifer Spage Babe from W Campbell, Carnlough, Ballymena. Babe is by Millbrook R2K and out of Newmill Sharon and joined John Laverty, Armoy, Ballymoney.

The New Year may only be a few weeks old, but it has started in style for the Welsh Black Cattle Society, with their first sale of the year achieving a top price of 16,600gns at Dolgellau on Tuesday. But despite this high price buyers were cautious in their spending and only the best cattle were in demand.

Leading the way was the much admired bull Caerynwch Banner 6 from local breeder T W Williams. Fully homebred, Banner 6 is by Caerynwch Ebrillwr 9 and out of Caerynwch Mai 59. Born in August 2007, Banner 6 sold to join pedigree breeder Alun Vaughan, Moel Irwch Uchaf, Llanrwst.

Next best among the bulls was a 5400gns sale for Graig-Goch Gerwyn 29 from Emyr Jones, Nebo, Llanrwst. Gerwyn 29 is by Brysgaga Erddyn 42 and out of Graig Goch Cer 3. At 19 months old Gerwyn 29 joins alwyn Morris at Merrddyn, Llanrug, Caernarfon.

The second collective offering of dairy cattle within seven days at Beeston Castle, Cheshire, produced an even stronger trade for the cattle on offer at the market's mid-month fixture where bidding reached 2500gns for a calved Holstein heifer.

"There was another strong demand and comparing the quality of cattle on offer at the two sales, these cattle looked even dearer," said a spokesman for auctioneers Wright Manley.

The day's top call came for the smart red and white in-calf Holstein heifer Dallyfarm Design Emma Marie Red 4 from L H Day, Norwich. By Stelbro Design and bred from six generations of VG and Excellent dams, she was due next month to Stooky Elm Park Rec Star and was bought by Peter Mercer, Crewe.

Ols season lamb trade in the north of England continues to enjoy a post New Year surge, with both Hexham andd Kirkby Stephen marts yesterday recording prices in excess of £90.

At Hexham the top call of £95 came for heavyweight Suffolk crosses freom East Knitsley. But the auctioneers report that overall the trade was easier than last week, with many pens in the £70-80/head range.

"However, the trade was still highly satisfactory with well fleshed quality sheep selling freely in excess of 160p/kg to a top of 175.6p/kg for Texel crosses."

At Kirkby Stephen yesterday evening a total of £1693 sheep were sold with nine buyers ringside to bid for stock. Top price was £93.50 for Texel crosses from W Natrass of Garrigill, while a 170.7p/kg bid was the top price/kg. This came for Beltex crosses from Messrs R Allinson, Winton.

Old season lamb trade has remained firm in the first sales of the week, with the 3486 forward at Carlisle keenly sought after by 12 separate buyers and the overall average levelling at 167.38p/kg.

But, like last week the top price failed to reach the mystical £100/head and the best price achieved was a £95.50 bid for a pen of 12 Texels from Ronnie Mark of Sunnygill Farm. The same vendor also sold at £92.50, while the best Beltex made up to £90 for entries from Snade Farm.

Top price/kg also went to Texel-sired entries, with Messrs T Bell of Mosshill Farm taking a 217p/kg bid.

Meanwhile in the south west the best price recorded at Exeter on Monday was an £85/head bid for heavy hoggs from Mr G Tripp. Overall the 890 hoggets forward averaged 160.2p/kg or £70.03/head. Additionally, the first of the new season lambs were out at Exeter and sold for £70.50/head or 175p/kg

The flock, established at Turrif, Aberdeenshire in 1994, was dispersed in total with the 3200gns bid coming for a 2005-bred ewe by the successful sire Craighead Hercules. This ewe, from one of the flock's top families, is out of a Wartle Goliath dam and was bought by Alastair Beaton, Falkirk. She is in-lamb to Courthill Napoleon - a son of Hull House Ma Man that cost 2100gns in 2007.

Among the Beltex on offer at Chelford last weekend the best of the trade was for a ewe from the reduction of Marshall Farms' Lamberhurst flock. Their best was a 720gns sale for a Northern Beltex Jack of Hearts daughter, Lamberhurst Kelci.

This one is out of a Challanger Ultimate sired dam and in-lamb to Northern Beltex Loads A Money, she joins Graham Sinclair, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas.

A complete clearance of Texel females at Chelford last weekend reflected the increased confidence in the sheep trade seen in recent weeks, according to auctioneer Gwyn Williams.

Topping the sale was an entry from Gordon and David Gray of Selkirk, Scotland. This one, a triplet born ewe by Glenside Lord of the Ring is out of a Knock Firefly sired ewe and was sold in-lamb to Lindstair Nic Nak. Having been placed reserve champion in the pre-sale show, she joined Aspatria, Cumbria-based breeders Messrs Wilkinson's Arkle flock at 1380gns.

After hitting the heights of £96 last week, could this be the first week we see hoggets hit £100?

Well, according to everyone I've spoken to in recent days the answer is probably no. Despite the highs of last week, trade isn't expected to jump too far this week and may even creep back a little.

However, store lambs followed their prime counterparts at the end of last week, with Texel cross stores making up to £68.50 and Suffolk crosses peaking at £67. No doubt the best of these would have been close to killing condition if not actually fit to kill, making them reasonably good value compared to the prime trade.

In the prime ring it is most certainly exports driving the current price rise and currency movements more than any other factor will determine just how quickly the £100 hogget is seen. But there's one thing for sure, the trade will suffer a near collapse tomorrow just as I sell my last batch!!

Trade at last week's Western Holstein Club show and sale at Beeston drew buyers from across the UK, with cattle sold as far afield as Angus, Befordshire and Carmarthenshire.

Leading the sale on the day were two entries, the first of which was Hawksmoor Amelia 15 from Robert Clare, Adderley, Market Drayton. This fresh calved heifer by Roylane Jordan sold to Robbie Bell, Knutsford.

The second to change hands at this level was the champion heifer from Ray Brown, Bidlea TG Peach, a daughter of Tegibby Gibson giving 36.8kg a day. This one joined Hywel Evans, Llansilin, Oswestry.

The second top call of 2600gns was also shared by two animals, with Ingram R Gibson Lana, a Silky Gibson daughter from Jonathan Deane of Norwich. This one sold to Graham Pierce, Chester, for his Milwr herd.

The other at this money was another from Rob Clare, Hawksmoor Topee 61. This one is a daughter of homebred stock bull Hawksmoor Roman and sold to Richard Thomas, Croesyceiliog, Carmarthern.

At 2550gns, the Taylor brothers, Shrewsbury, sold Stokehall Chance 49 again to Mr Thomas. The Taylors also sold the next best, Burnbrae Breakout Liesa to F and N Brunt and Sons, Stone.

Figures released by the British Limousin Cattle Society show that sales of pedigree animals at Official Sales exceeded the £5 Million mark in 2008.   Including the end of year Red Ladies female sale, the total gross figure for the year was finalized at £5,231,408. Over the last five years, pedigree Limousin cattle sold at Official Society Sales have grossed over £25 Million.

In 2008, fifteen Collective Society Sales were held with further Official Sales from twenty-two breeders' herds.  Averages for both bulls and females at Collective Sales increased on the year with the bull average showing a rise of £291 to £4026 per head.  Significantly, the total number of animals sold at Collective Sales in the year also showed a slight increase, up by fifty one.  At the Autumn 2008 round of Collective Bull Sales held at Carlisle, Perth, Dungannon and Brecon respectively, 212 bulls averaged £4179 which represented an increase of £269 on the year.  This figure also represented an increase on averages of £1299 from the comparable figures in 2005.  A feature of the Limousin sale year was the demand for all classes of stock, from both pedigree and commercial producers, including bulls, cows, maiden and in-calf heifers and youngstock.  In the year, 51 animals sold to 10,000gns and more.

The Limousin sale year saw a number of records and achievements which included: new centre records at Perth in consecutive sales; average of £6438 for senior bulls at Carlisle's October Sale; centre record and all breeds record average for maiden heifers of £3321 at Red Ladies, Carlisle; 33 Newstart animals averaging £9900, an all-breeds centre record for a Dispersal Sale; centre record at Ballymena; centre record average at Brecon in May; centre record at Newark; a Welsh breeder record of £33,600 set at Carlisle in February; and a joint N Irish breeder record of £31,500 set at Perth in October. 

The year's highest price paid for a bull was the 50,000gns paid at Carlisle in October for DA Williams' Wilodge Cerberus.  The highest priced female was Newstart Upsydaisy who was sold for 41,000gns in February at the herd's dispersal sale held in Carlisle.

Commenting on the figures, BLCS Chairman Jim Bloom said, "The Limousin pedigree sale figures over a sustained number of years are testament to the ongoing demand from the commercial sector for easy care, efficient cattle that leave a profitable carcass.  Ongoing research in the beef sector, including the identification of the F94L superior beef gene, is just serving to highlight the massive genetic advantages the Limousin breed has in terms of carcass traits."

Yet another prime sheep sale has come close to breaching the £100 barrier of old season lambs, with the best at Hexham yesterday making £95. Suffolk crosses from The Whins took the top price of the day, with the 71 entered from the farm levelling at £89.95, a massive £40 improvement on the same time last year.

Export lambs were also keenly sought after with 33 three-quarter Texels making 197.5p/kg  and a pen of 17 bred the same way also hitting that mark.

Next best in terms of price/head was an £89 call for Charollais crosses, also from The Whins.

Among the cattle on offer the best grossing was an angus cross steer from Flotterton which made £1377.60, with others from the same home achieving £1245.81 and £1177.82.

The prime sheep trade has really gone into overdrive this week, following on from the £84 trade at St Boswells on Monday and £88 at Skipton on the same day, Tuesday night saw them hit £94.50 at Kirkby Stephen on Tuesday evening.

The sale toppers were Texels from R Wilson, Low Field, Appleby, but they weren't the only ones to top £90, with more Texels, this time from Newlands reaching £90.80/head.

Among the other breeds Suffolks topped at £83.80, Hill Cheviots made up to £78.80 and Swaledales hit £64.80, as did Rough Fells.

Cull ewes were also dearer with Bluefaced Leicesters hit £65 and Texels reaching £62.80.

Prime lambs were first to enter the competition fold, as Skipton Auction Mart staged its opening show of 2009 yesterday - a day which kick-started the New Year in good style, with sheep prices well up on the final sale of last year. 

John and Judy Garnett, of Lane End Farm, Draughton, clinched the inaugural title of 2009 with a pen of five 47kg Beltex  x Texel prime lambs, which made a show-topping £88/head when knocked down to Calderdale purchaser Gerald Medcalfe, Halifax.

 For good measure, the Garnetts also exhibited the second prize pen of 40kg prime lambs, acquired at £75 each by Andrew Atkinson, Harrogate, with the third prize 40kg pen from Thwaite Bros, Airton, making £76 apiece to Nick Dalby, Harrogate.

In a show class for Mules, Ian Mellin, Airton, had the first and second prize pens, both acquired at £64.50 and £67.50 a head respectively by Paul Watson, Hellifield.

With more than 2100 prime lambs and ewes forward, a top price of 204p/kg was achieved by a pen of Texel lambs from Jack Clay, Draughton. The overall average selling price of 161.3p/kg bettered the final sheep sale average in December by over 30p/kg.

Jeremy Eaton, general manager at Skipton Auction Mart, explained: "Prime stock started the year at exceptional prices, partly due to short supply and the value of sterling against the euro for meat exporters."

At the opening Craven Dairy Auction on the same day, Mark Falshaw, Gargrave, sent out the two highest priced entries, a brace of second calver cows that each made £1700.

A fourth calver from Robert Crisp, Calton, sold for £1640, with the best of the newly calven heifers from G P and C Fleetwood, Mirfield, making £1600.

With talk abounding of the £100 hoggett this spring vendors at St Boswells are well on the way there already with a top price of £84 achieved at the market yesterday for Texels from Messrs Dunlop, Emscleugh, Dunbar.

A raft of other vendors also enjoyed the strong trade with more than 2250 hoggets sold to a top of 200p/kg. Many pens made £70 or more with Suffolk crosses topping at £81.50, Greyface making up to £76 and Blackfaces reaching £72.50/head.

Among the ewes on offer the sale was topped at £62.50/head for Suffolks from Fleurs, while Texels reached £70/head for those from Wormerlaw.

In the cattle lines the top priced bullock sold at 206p/kg for one from Ramrig which went to W T S Forsyth and Sons, with the 66 steers sold averaging 170.7p/kg.

Heifers were topped by a 200p/kg sale for an entry from Backmuir which was bought by Worsley Wholesale Butcher. 98 heifers forward averaged 174.6p/kg.

Cull cows and other over thirty month entries were topped by a Limousin cross entry from Robert Neill, Upper Nisbet which grossed £1257.

Well, with most auctioneers back in the swing of things after the Christmas and New Year break things are slowly starting to hot up on the sales front.

This weekend sees the round of in-lamb ewe sales return with Texels to the fore at both Chelford and Lanark, Chelford also plays host to a sale of in-lamb Beltex females, including a reduction of the Lamberhurst flock on behalf of Marshall Farms, Somerset. Among the Texels at Lanark are the dispersals of the Haremoss flock for Marine Gibb,  the Croft flock on behalf of Messrs Howieson and the Netherkeir flock on behalf of Messrs Harvey.

Then next week sales get going in real style with Dolgellau hosting a sale of 99 pedigree Welsh Blacks and Harrison and Hetherington opening their doors for the first major sale of the year with Graham Brindley staging a production sale from his Bringlee herd of British Blues.

After that its full steam ahead for the rest of the year with dairy sales lining up including the Western Holstein Club's sale at Beeston this Thursday and then Wright Manley's mid month sale at Beeston next Tuesday. 

On the beef front, the final ever Spring Bull Sales to be staged at Perth kcik off on Monday 2 February with Aberdeen Angus and Limousins the main breeds of the first week. The Charolais and Simmental fixtures then follow a fortnight later.

As ever Taking Stock will bring you all the action from the main sales, so don't forget to keep checking back for the latest sale reports

Farmers from across the south west will gather at Exeter Market later today for a memorial service for auctioneer Alan Venner of Husseys.

Alan, one of the areas leading sheep auctioneers for many years sadly passed away on 28 December and will be sorely missed by all those he met through his year's in the rostrum at Exeter.

Having had the pleasure of working with Alan for a couple of years at the turn of this century when I was based in the south west, I for one will be forever grateful to have met him and had the chance to learn from him. His easy going manner and unique patter marked him out as a gentleman among auctioneers and his passion for the industry was second to none.

The Taking Stock team send their condolences to Alan's family and all who knew him.

The Royal Smithfield Club has elected Robert Stovold, Godalming, Surrey as club president for 2009.

Mr Stovold who has been a member of the Royal Smithfield Club since 1950 has served on the club's council since 1975 and was elected vice president of the club in 1987. He is also an honorary vice president and former chairman of the Surrey Agricultural Society.

Mr Stovold is a breeder of high quality cattle, sheep and pigs and values the aims of the Royal Smithfield Club to encourage and promote the breeding and production of high quality meat.

Royal Smithfield Club has also announced the appointment of John Campbell, Alnwick, Northumberland as the Club's chairman for 2009 and 2010, taking over chairmanship from Neil Gourlay.

Mr Campbell has been a member of the club since 1984 and has served on the council since 1995. He runs a mixed farm with beef, sheep and cereals, breeding Charolais cattle, Texel and Suffolk sheep and is a producer of prime lambs.